Loop-forming attachment for tufting machines



Jan. 13, 1953 w. v. WILLIAMS LOOP-FORMING ATTACHMENT FOR TUF'TING MACHINES 2 Sl-lEETS-SHEET 1 Filed April 4. 1950 JNVENTOR.

W/LL/E l/. W/Ll/AM-S ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1953 w. v. WILLIAMS LOOP-FORMING ATTACHMENT FOR TUFTING MACHINES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 4. 1950 INVEN TOR. WILLIE V. WILL mMs ,4 TTOR/YE rs Patented Jan. 13, 1953 LOOP-FORMING ATTACHMENT FOR TUFTING MACHINES Willie V. Williams, Dalton, Ga., assignor to Russell-Lacey Manufacturing Gompany, a corporation of Georgia Application April 4, 1950, Serial No. 153,959

8 Claims.

This invention relates to tufting machines, and more particularly to an improved loop-forming attachment for machines of this sort.

Pile fabrics having loops extending from one face of a fabric base are well known, and are commonly made on tufting machines which insert successive portions of a doubled pile yarn through the base fabric at spaced intervals. The loops are formed on the bottom face of the fabric by hooks which catch the yarn strand after it is inserted and hold it against withdrawal until a succeeding loop is inserted. Chenille fabrics are formed in a similar manner by severing the inserted doubled yarn strands instead of allowing them to remain as loops.

U. S. Patents Nos. 2,482,682 and 2,482,683 to Moore disclose reversible pile fabrics formed with loops on one face of a fabric base and chenille ends on the opposite face, which may be made by inserting the doubled strand to form a loop below the fabric base and training the strand above the fabric base to form a loop which is cut to produce chenille ends, or by cutting the loops below and allowing permanent loops to remain above the fabric base.

I have found that there are a number of advantages in forming the chenille ends on the bottom face and the permanent loops on the top face in pile fabrics of this sort, because greater latitude in spacing the pile tufts is thereby allowed, and also because greater mechanical efficiency is possible, and according to the present inventionan upper loop-forming attachment is provided by which the full benefit of these advantages may be obtained.

The construction and operation of the loopforming attachment of the present invention is described in detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a tufting machine fitted with a loop-forming attachment arranged in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the needle head illustrating the relation of the loop-forming attachment to the crank mechanism, the reciprocatory needle, and the work-feed means;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view elevation of the needle head further illustrating the arrangement of the crankmechanism, and the reciprocatory needle;

' Fig. 4 is another end elevation of the needle head similar to Fig. 2 but showing the needle bar in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the head of the loop-forming attachment showing its association with the connecting link;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of a looper bar;

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are plan views of the looper bars'showing their relative lateral positions with respect to the yarn during the reciprocation of the loop-forming attachment.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and moreparticularly, at first, to Fig. l, the improved loop-forming attachment of the present invention may be used with any usual form of tufting machine as shown generally at l2 arranged with a'base or work support M, an upstanding stock IS, an overhanging arm 18 and a needle head 2%. A drive shaft 22 disposed within the overhanging arm [8 carries the usual drivingv sheave 2d and hand wheel 26 and extends through the arm Hi to the head 20 where it operates a crank plate 28 which in turn actuates reciprocatory needle bar 38 carrying a needle 32. This arrangement of the crank mechanism is more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 in which a link 34 operatively connects the needle bar to a crank plate 28 secured to shaft 22 (see Fig. 4). The tufting machine l2 further incorporates the usual work feed means 36 comprising a dog member 38 and a spring-loadedpresser foot All. A chenille forming mechanism of the usual type comprising a loop forming member 42 having an extending yarn-engaging finger 44 and a shearing blade 415 is disposed below the work support M.

The improved loop-forming attachment of the present invention is shown generally at 58 (see Figs. 2 and 4.) and includes a looper bar-52 carried at the lower end of a vertical support shaft 54. A support bracket 56 carries shaft in fixed longitudinal relation thereto but permits the support shaft to oscillate about its longitudinal axis. Looper bar 52 is carried in generally par allel spaced relation above the line of travel of the same shaft by such means as a block58 withv set screws 60, which are in turn carried by the support shaft 54. The support brackettfi is secured on the machine at the needle head 26 by a lateral'supporting arm '62, which is Divotedon the needle head 20 as at 48. This'pivoted arrangement of the lateral supporting arm 52 disposes the loop-forming attachment for rocking about an axis at-right anglesto the direction of movement of thereciprocatory needle 32. R0cking motion of the loop-forming attachment in this manner is provided for by a pivot block 64 fixed adjacent the upper end of the support bracket 56, which is formed to receive a lateral pivot pin 66 of a connecting link 68 running from the crank plate 25 as at H! (see Fig. 3).

Support shaft 54 extends upwardly above the pivot block 64 and has secured at its upper end a head block 72 which rests on the pivot block 64. Longitudinal movement of support shaft 54 within bracket 56 is limited by the head block 12 and a set collar 14 secured to the support shaft 54 at the lower end of support bracket 56. Secured to head block i2 is a guide plate 16 having a biased slot 18 (see Figs. 3, 5, and 6) A portion 80 of connecting link 68 extends beyond the pivot pin 66 and is adapted to be received in this biased slot 18 so as to cause the support shaft 54 to oscillate about its longitudinal axis as connecting link 68 rocks about pivot pin 66. e

The operation of the looper bar 52 with respect to the yarn strand as the loop-forming attachment rocks and oscillates through a complete cycle is shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. The oscillation of the support shaft 54 about its longitudinal axis and the rocking movement of the loopforming attachment 5i] about the pivot point at 48, being actuated through the connecting link 58 from the crank plate 28, occur in timed'rela tion with the reciprocation of the needle 32. The

bar 52 and the pile yarn 82 extending downward from the eye of needle 32 (see Fig. 1). As the needle 32 reaches the top of its stroke, the looper bar 52 is shifted laterally in the opposite direction to move the hook just in front of the yarn strand. While the needle 32 is in the upper portion of its stroke, movement of the looper bar 52 reverses so that the hooked portion is moved rearwardly across the vertical path of the needle to engage the strand of yarn 82 to form a loop as at 84 (compare Fig. 1) The looper bar 52 reaches its back position at about the time the needle 32 pierces the fabric base 86 on the work support [4. However, the yarn strand 82 is not released by the looper bar 52 until about the time the needle 32 is at the bottom of its stroke. This prevents withdrawalof the loop 84 during the for mation of a succeeding loop below thefabric base 85. As the needle 32 reaches the bottom of its downstroke, the looper bar 52 shifts laterally and starts to move forward to loop-forming position again, dropping the loop 84 on the forward stroke. The oscillating movement of the looper bar 52 facilitates dropping of the loop 84' from the hooked portion and avoids the possibility of fouling the needle 32 with a previously formed loop 84 as the looper bar' 52 moves forwardly past the needle 32.

I claim:

1. In a tufting machine of the type having a reciprocating needle driven froma crank mechanism, the improvement which comprises alooper bar, a support shaft carrying said looper bar, a support bracket mounted on said machine for rocking motion about an axis at right. easier i the direction of reciprocation of said needle, said support bracket carrying said support shaft for oscillating movement about its longitudinal axis, and means connecting said crank mechanism to said support bracket for rocking said bracket and for oscillating said support shaft in said bracket in timed relation to the reciprocation of said needle whereby said looper is shifted laterally in one direction for clearing said needle while advancing to loop-forming position, and is shifted laterally in the opposite direction on its reverse stroke to pass beneath the needle and engage the yarn to form a loop.

2. Ina tufting machine of the type having a reciprocating needle driven from a crank mechanism, the improvement which comprises a looper bar, a generally upright support shaft carrying said looper bar, a support bracket mounted on said machine for rocking motion about an axis at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of said needle, said support bracket carrying said support shaft for oscillating movement about its longitudinal axis, and a link operatively connecting said crank mechanism with said support bracket for rocking said bracket and oscillating said support shaft in said bracket in timed relation with the reciprocation of said needle whereby said looper bar is moved laterally in one direction for clearing said needle while advancing to loop-forming position during the initial portion of the upstroke of said needle, and is shifted laterally in the opposite direction to pass beneath the end of said needle and engage the yarn to form a loop during its reverse stroke.

3, In a tufting machine of the type having a reciprocating needle driven from a crank mechanism, the improvement which comprises a looper bar for engaging the yarn strand and forming a loop therewith, a generally upright support shaft carrying said looper bar, a support bracket mounted on said machine for rocking motion about an axis at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of said needle, said support bracket carrying said support shaft for oscillating movement about its longitudinal axis, a link operatively connecting said crank mechanism with said bracket for rocking said bracket, and means carried on said support shaft and operated by said link for oscillating said shaft in timed relation with said rocking movement, said support shaft being rocked in timed relation with the reciprocation of said needle wherebys'aid looper holds the loopduring the downstroke of said needle and releases said loop to advance to loop-forming position during the upstroke of said needle.

4. In a tufting machine of the type having a reciprocating needle driven from a crank mechanism, the improvement whichcomprises a looper bar, a support shaft carrying said looper bar, a support bracket mounted on said machine for rocking motion about an axis at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of said needle, said support shaft being mounted insaid support bracket in fixed longitudinal relation but free for oscillating movement about its longitudinal axis, a link operatively connecting said crank mechanism with said support bracket for rocking said bracket, and means carried on said support shaft and operated by said link for oscillating said shaft about its longitudinal axis in timed relation with the rocking of said bracket, said rocking and oscillating movements being in timed relation with the reciprocation'of said needle where;

by said looper bar is shifted laterally in one direction for clearing said needle while advancing to loop-forming position, and is shifted laterally in the opposite direction on its reverse stroke to pass beneath the needle and engage the yarn to form a loop.

5. In a tufting machine of the type having a reciprocating needle driven from a crank mechanism, the improvement which comprises a looper bar formed at one end with a loop-forming hook, a support shaft carrying said looper bar with the hook end of said bar extending toward said needle, a support bracket mounted on said machine for rocking motion about an axis at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of said needle, said bracket carrying said support shaft in a generally upright position for oscillating movement about its longitudinal axis, and means operatively connecting said crank mechanism with said support bracket for rocking said bracket and oscillating said shaft in timed relation with the reciprocation of said needle whereby said looper is shifted laterally in one direction for clearing said needle while advancing to loopforming position, and is shifted laterally in the opposite direction on its reverse stroke to pass beneath the needle and engage the yarn to form a loop.

6. In a tufting machine of the type having a reciprocating needle driven from a crank mechanism, an improved loop-forming attachment comprising a looper bar formed with a loopforming hook, an upright support shaft adapted at its lower end for carrying said bar in generally parallel spaced relation above the line of travel of work through said machine and with the hook portion of said looper bar extending toward said needle; a support bracket mounted on said machine for rocking about an axis at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of said needle, said support bracket carrying said support shaft for oscillating movement about its longitudinal axis; a link operatively connecting said crank mechanism and said support bracket for rocking said bracket; an angularly slotted head member secured to said support bracket for engaging said link and oscillating said shaft; said oscillating and rocking movements being so synchronized with the reciprocatory movement of said needle that the loopforming hook is shifted laterally in one direction to clear the needle as said looper bar is moved to its yarn-engaging position and is shifted laterally in the opposite direction on the reverse stroke to pass beneath said needle and engage the yarn to form a loop; said rocking movement being further synchronized with the reciprocatory movement of said needle to cause said hook to retain said loop during the major portion of the downstroke of said needle and to release the loop as said hook is moved forward to loop-forming position, whereby the loop is formed and held against withdrawal during the downstroke of said needle.

7. In a tufting machine of the type having a reciprocating needle driven from a crank mechanism, an improved loop-forming attachment which comprises a looper bar formed with a loopforming hook, a generally upright support shaft carrying at the lower end thereof said looper bar in a generally horizontal position in alignment with the line of travel of work moving through said machine, a tubular support bracket pivoted on said machine and carrying said support shaft in fixed longitudinal relationship therewith while allowing oscillating movement of said shaft about its longitudinal axis, a link operatively connecting said crank mechanism and said pivoted support bracket for rocking said bracket about its pivot on said machine, and means secured to an upper portion of said support shaft and cooperating with said link to oscillate said shaft with respect to said support bracket as said bracket is rocked by said link, the rocking and oscillating movements being so timed with the reciprocation of said needle that the loop-forming hook is shifted laterally in one direction for clearing said needle while advancing to loop-forming position and is shifted laterally in the opposite direction on its reverse stroke t pass beneath the needle and engage the yarn to form a loop.

8. In a tufting machine of the type having a reciprocating needle driven from a crank mechanism, an improved loop-forming attachment comprising a looper bar formed with a loop- 1 forming hook; an upright support shaft adapted at its lower end for carrying said looper bar in generally parallel spaced relation above the line of travel of work through said machine and with the hook portion of said looper bar extending toward said needle; a support bracket mounted on said machine for rocking about an axis at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of said needle and to the line of travel of said work, said support bracket carrying said support shaft for oscillating movement about its longitudinal axis; a head block secured to said support shaft above said support bracket; a laterally extending guide plate secured to said head block, said guide plate being formed with a diagonally extending slot; a link operatively connecting said crank mechanism with said support bracket, said connecting link being pivoted on said support bracket for rocking it, and having an extending portion adapted to be received in the slot formed in said guide plate for producing oscillation of said support shaft when said connecting link is rocked about its pivot on said support bracket by the operation of said crank mechanism.

WILLIE V. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the,

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 411,394 Humphrey Oct, 1, 1889 465,741 Williams Dec. 22, 1891 1,772,993 Grutter Aug. 12, 1930 1,922,131 Heidel Aug. 12, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 79,115 Germany Jan. 16, 1895 

